[Rivera42]

I have to assume the drive is fine, as I was successfully able to play that DVD, as well as install the 2006 "Police Quest" game from CD.

EDIT: Also installed the "EA Sports 2006 Collection" which also requires a disc be placed in the drive in order to play the corresponding game, even though the games themselves are installed to HDD.

I had to perform these operations manually. Not only do the discs not autorun, but I do not receive the "what do you want Windows to do with this disc" pop-up dialog. I have verified this setting is enabled for the drive (My Computer > right click > Properties > AutoPlay tab) but it clearly isn't happening. However, I do receive this dialog on insertion of other media, e.g. an SD card.

EDIT: I have also noticed that upon disc insertion, the Windows cursor doesn't change to the arrow-with-disc icon like it would ordinarily do if the drive were acting properly.

The drive makes the most godawful noises at times when reading from a disc. As I've stated, the drive does seem to read and write to CD and DVD, but these sounds don't always sound normal to me. The only thing I can think of to describe the sound, it sounds like the drive is talking. Seriously. I think the sound may be produced by the laser trying to find specific points in the disc data, but what it sounds like to me is a robotic voice saying "beep." It isn't beeping, mind you, it sounds like it's SAYING the WORD "beep." The sounds also resemble something like a box of Valentine's Day chocolates being shaken violently, if that helps you imagine. These sounds do not always occur, for instance I just made a test .bin image of a CD and the drive just made the normal whispery, whooshy sound I associate with normal hi-speed disc activity.

My apologies for the odd choice of words, but rest assured I'm being serious here. I might be able to post an audio recording of this symptom, but I don't know yet.

[Rivera42]

I have discovered that the other versions of Firefox listed in my add/remove are the portable version which is installed on one of the U3 flash drives. I'm not sure why a "portable" app on removable media would be listed, and not just once, but twice - 2.0.0.14 and .15 .

As of this writing, I have uninstalled the following programs (one right after the other, in the order listed):

Norton Spyware Scan (yahoo freebie; no longer supported)

Spybot SD (NOT version 1.5.2.20 but the other listed installation)
(UPDATE: now Spybot doesn't work. I'm replacing it with a freshly dl'ed Version 1.6 . I also realized Spybot created a registry backup when I first installed it, but I can't find it anywhere. Everything else is still here from the previous installation, including the skins and the undo/recovery option for cleansed items from as far back as May. If I could find the original reg backup, maybe it would be useful?)

DVD Shrink

CodecInstaller

Viewpoint Media Player
(AIM _seems_ to be working just fine without it.)

I'll need to look deeper into the .NET Framework situation. I can't discern at this point how best to handle this beast.

I just saw XP Pro Full Version in Staples for the usual $300 and word is bond, I'm about ready to just say the heck with it and grab that.

[AcaCandy]

You mention drive noises for the first time

Instead of thinking about a new version of Windows, hope about picking up a new drive and testing that

[Rivera42]

I hear you, and I agree, it's just that I hear a clock ticking with regard to retail XP availability.

Kind of presents a conflict of interest of sorts. At least, I _think_ that's the phrase I'm looking for...
);

EDIT: I don't know why I didn't think of this before, but it just dawned on me that I actually kind of need a new-in-the-box copy of XP. Remember last winter, that laptop with no reinstall media? Well, I replaced the hard drive on it last month and haven't installed an OS yet.
*slaps forehead*

[AcaCandy]

Get a copy while the getting is good

[Rivera42]

I'd like to point out that I'm using the "problem" disc drive to play a CD as I'm working and the sounds I mentioned aren't happening. The drive is being whisper-quiet, as it should. I think those sounds, or noises, or whatever, have some relation to using CD-ROM/DVD-ROM software discs but I can't figure out why.

[AcaCandy]

Have we tried the registry edit for the upper and lower filters yet?

[Rivera42]

We haven't. TBPH I don't even know what that means );

[AcaCandy]

Note: If you had installed multiple CD-writing software products on your computer, you need to uninstall the software products before you remove the registry keys.

Remove the Registry Entry

1: Click Start > Run > in the box type regedit > OK.

2: Locate and then click the following registry subkey:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/System/CurrentControlSet/Control/Class/{4d36e965-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}

3: On the File menu, click Export.

4: In the File name box, type savedkey, and then click Save.

5: Click the REG_MULTI_SZ data type UpperFilters > click Delete on the Edit menu > Yes.

6: Click the REG_MULTI_SZ data type LowerFilters > click Delete on the Edit menu > Yes.

7: Quit Registry Editor, and then restart the computer.

Upon rebooting, all should be 'normal'.


http://www.techsupportforum.com/hard...-moved-xp.html



Worth a shot, I know I have an MS link somewhere, but, it was just as easy to quickly google it.

[Rivera42]

I might be mistaken, but it appears the OP in that thread can't use his drive at all, or that it won't read the discs.
My drive recognizes discs and reads/writes but needs to be "jumpstarted" in a way. It doesn't refresh the Explorer information on its own either.

To provide an example: when I installed Madden NFL 06, I had to manually launch the .exe on Disc 1 by navigating to it in Windows Explorer; the game's autorun didn't launch any more than my XP CD we've discussed. When the installer prompted me for Disc 2, I placed it in the tray and clicked OK to proceed, at which point the installer found Disc 2 automatically. The install completed succesfully. I hope that helps to better illustrate the symptoms.

What exactly are the upper and lower filters? Does this procedure risk disabling D: drive?

I'd feel better if I thought I could use System Restore but it doesn't work.

Do the programs to remove, include WMP11, VLC MP and/or PowerISO?

[Rivera42]

This might or might not help, but here's what I _can_ do with the drive:

Play cds and dvds.

Burn cds, but if I use WMP11 the media information isn't attached to the tracks.

Physically eject discs using the eject command in Windows Explorer, Media Player 11 and VLC media player.

Burn DVDs using Lifehacker's "dvd flick" app. The disc title of the last disc burned remains displayed in Explorer until I load and launch another disc. IOW windows doesn't get the memo that the drive is empty or the disc has changed. In fact, Explorer will often persist in displaying the contents of the last disc even after it's been ejected.

Burn data cds via Windows Explorer.

Burn data dvds using e.g. ImgBurn.

Install software from cd or dvd, but only if initiated manually.

As I mentioned, I do receive the expected "what do you want windows to do" pop up dialog when I insert or connect other media types, e.g. SD cards. This pop up should appear on disc insertion in drive D but, as we know, it doesn't.

On disc insertion, the activity indicator lights up and I hear drive activity. But nothing else happens until I initiate manually.

Virtual drives work properly and iso images with autorun information, e.g. the xp image, launch correctly and promptly.

WMP11 needs to be closed and relaunched in order to "find" any disc I put in after whatever disc I'd been using has been removed.

Sorry if this is sloppy but I was at dinner. I must return to work now, after I clean up from a delicious and satisfying meal.

Thank you again for your assistance, it is Sunday after all.

[Hal356]

Well, try Windows Restore, and restore back a month to the point BEFORE you installed that software, and those codecs. If that does not work let us know.

AAA please ignore this, as I didn't notice the next 2 PAGES in this thread!

[Hal356]

Are you able to completely UNINSTALL all of the codecs and the software that you mentioned in the first post in this forum?

[Rivera42]

lol no worries mate

Yes, I can and did uninstall the codecs and some of the media apps. Thing is, two of the burning apps I had been using immediately prior to this issue were no-install portables: DeepBurner and InfraRecorder. It was following the use of these programs, around the same time as the codec install/uninstall, that I first noticed this issue.

[Hal356]

Have you been having problems with any other removable media besides CD's, such as flash drives, floppy (if you have one), etc.?